Spain’s Head of Financial Crime Allegedly Accepted €1 Million Bribes in Cocaine Smuggling Operation

The head of financial crime in Spain’s National Police, Chief Inspector Óscar Sánchez Gil, has come under fire following accusations of accepting bribes of up to €1 million for providing drug traffickers with key intelligence in a high-stakes cocaine smuggling operation. According to a recent report by Heraldo de Aragón, Spain’s Internal Affairs investigation alleges that, over the course of five years, Sánchez facilitated the safe passage of large cocaine shipments through Spain’s primary ports by informing traffickers about potential police inspections.

Sánchez, who held a prominent position as chief of the economic crimes department (UDEF) and previously served in an anti-drug trafficking unit focused on online criminal networks (Udyco), is said to have become embroiled in the illegal operation while leading a specialized group on anti-narcotics operations. Investigators believe Sánchez used his insider knowledge to collaborate with an influential yet little-known Spanish crime syndicate.

Following his arrest last week, law enforcement officials reported finding evidence of Sánchez’s involvement, with cash allegedly tied to drug trafficking discovered stashed in both his residence and office. Sources within Internal Affairs told Heraldo de Aragón that “bribes for these tip-offs could be over €1 million per container,” as they enabled drug traffickers to move shipments without interference from law enforcement at major Spanish ports, including Algeciras, Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga, and Bilbao.

The scale of the kickbacks was extraordinary, but Heraldo de Aragón noted that these substantial payments amounted to “just a little pinch” of the street value of the trafficked drugs.

The investigation, which led to the arrest of Sánchez, has also been tied to Spain’s largest-ever cocaine seizure. Law enforcement officials recently confiscated 13 tonnes of cocaine in the port city of Algeciras, a haul estimated to have a street value of €500 million.

In addition to the funds discovered at Sánchez’s office in Madrid, where nearly €1 million in €500 notes was found in a bag, Internal Affairs agents uncovered an extensive cache of drug profits hidden in the home of Sánchez’s partner in Alcalá de Henares. According to reports, approximately €8 million was stashed in the walls, while another €12 million was hidden in a concealed basement compartment.

Another Spanish publication, El Debate, based in Madrid, confirmed the large payments, with sources stating that “the commissions received” by Sánchez could, in some cases, have reached or exceeded €1 million per transaction. These bribes allegedly allowed drug traffickers to evade law enforcement, ensuring the safe transit of their cargo through Spain’s largest ports.

The ongoing investigation has raised serious concerns within Spain’s law enforcement agencies, given the high-ranking position of Sánchez and the scale of his alleged involvement in organized crime.

By fLEXI tEAM